FCMR Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Lancaster Garage in Onchan is to close, MR News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey_magic Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Well, it is getting late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty2k04 Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Well, it is getting late. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Funny bloke 30 more people now looking for work thanks to the IOM Government, Lancasters came to the Island with the intention to create something that is unique to anywhere in Europe and what do they get ........shafted. This is a PLC company who wanted to build new premises and low and behold the land that was to be developed went up & up in price. And who we ask owns all the land............. We will leave that to you to decide! hate to cast accusations. So sleep well M_M its not your house that may be repossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripsaw Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Is it just the IOM? I thought it was a 'group' cashflow problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 I'm sure someone will step in to take over the dealerships, I hope so anyway I need some were to get genuine parts for my car from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty2k04 Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Is it just the IOM? I thought it was a 'group' cashflow problem. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No just the IOM ...for the reasons above, Well thats what we believe...Lancasters are part of Jardine Motors which should mean loads of Money Thanks Jim I hope so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minxie Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Is that Lancaster Motors that used to be Corkills on the roundabout? Are they closing totally or just the car sales? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty2k04 Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Is that Lancaster Motors that used to be Corkills on the roundabout? Are they closing totally or just the car sales? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Everything is shutting at the moment unless they get a buyer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey_magic Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 If they didn't own the land, why were they planning to develop on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cret Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Have heard Mann Autohaus (is that what it is now?) is also due to close soon. Thought they were going to yonks ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 I for one am very sorry to hear about them closing, I have delt with them in the past and found thier service to be very good, if a little expensive. But you get what you pay for and I'm not going to complain about that. There are a number of reasons that car dealers are finding it hard at the moment (especialy franchised dealerships) and it's not just limited to the Isle of Man. We seem to have a lot of garages on the island and fear that this will not be the last to go before the year is out. On the plus side for all the staff at Lancaster there is still a big demand for their skills as the number of cars on the island is unlikley to decrease these cars will all need maintanance and eventual replacement. I once worked for a franchised dealer and while I quite enjoyed my time working there I found that leaving was one of the best moves I have ever made. But at least I had the choice to leave and wasn't forced to. As regards Lancasters, I think there is more to it than just a land deal gone bad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sideways Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Mann Autohaus as it was called is part of the Lancaster Group and was part of the Corkills group, it is now called Lancaster BMW. Lancasters bought the franchises for Audi VW Porsche and BMW off the Corkills group about 18 months/2years ago, I believe that they had not realised the way the IOM works and have decided to pull out of the Island as the investment is not being as productive as the have hoped. I have a number of friends that are employed by the Lancaster group and it is a very uncertain time for them, I am sure someone will take on the franchises but when is the question? The forecourt and shop at Onchan are not connected to the Lancaster group so it is just the car sales and service part the is going. This means another 30 or so people on unemployed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxman8180 Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Well, it is getting late. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Funny bloke 30 more people now looking for work thanks to the IOM Government, <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What, it is the fault of the IOM government that people can buy expensive German cars cheaper from non-franchised dealers? Well I'll be damned! Free Market economy dude. While, of course, it will be difficult for the staff concerned, I'm not sure you can take the easy route and blame the Government. Cret - I think that Lancaster own both Corkills and (what was) BMN Carriages dont' they?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cret Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 So it seems yeah. My bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 What, it is the fault of the IOM government that people can buy expensive German cars cheaper from non-franchised dealers? Well I'll be damned! Free Market economy dude. While, of course, it will be difficult for the staff concerned, I'm not sure you can take the easy route and blame the Government. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'll be the first to confess. I have just bought a pre-registered car imported from the U.K via a non-franchised dealer. I have got exactly the car I wanted and saved over £7,000 compared to the nearest deal on the Isle of Man. It will of course need servicing and parts, for which, while it's under warranty I will be going to the local franchised dealer. He will in turn charge me upwards of £90.00 per hour + VAT for labour and because they are busy I will have to book my car in a couple of weeks in advance. There is more to a franchised car dealership than buying and selling cars, and they are quite entitled to do business on the same terms as any of their competitors. The free market is dictated by the consumer and not the Government. Business is changing and businesses must change with the times. Why should the buyer pay over the odds so that they can look at their new car in a pile carpeted showroom with over paid commission based sales staff? This illusion lasts for all of twenty minutes and then when you have bought that gleeming, shiny new car and it hits the road it just becomes an ever depreciating drain on your pocket. Consumers are getting wise and some dealers are recognising this and changing with the times. While I feel sympathy with the staff at Lancaster I blame the closure on poor management. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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